Things to do in Wichita with kids are easy to plan once you have a list, so here is mine: 15 real places on my Benable list called Things to Do in Wichita, KS, from Exploration Place and the Sedgwick County Zoo to Central Riverside Park and a diner. I am a mom of seven in Wichita, Kansas, and this is the home base for Marie Gems. Under each question below is what my own note on the place says.
Disclosure: my Benable links, including the one in this post, are affiliate links, and I mark them as sponsored. This list is places to go, not products to buy.
What are the best things to do in Wichita with kids on a rainy or cold day?
Start with Exploration Place and the Wichita Art Museum. My note on Exploration Place calls it a hands-on science museum right on the river, a good rainy day option, and the kind of place kids do not get bored of fast. The Wichita Art Museum is on the list for a solid regional art collection and a rotating exhibit that is usually worth checking, and my note calls it a good indoor option when it is too hot or too cold to be outside.
What other museums are on my Wichita list for kids?
Three more museums are on the list. For a kid who loves trains, my note says the Great Plains Transportation Museum has real vintage locomotives and rail cars you can walk right up to. The Mid-America All-Indian Museum is small but well done on Native American art and history, and my note says it is worth the stop if you are already near Exploration Place and the river. The Kansas African American Museum, or TKAAM, is housed in a beautiful old building and covers a piece of local history that does not get talked about enough. My note calls it a short visit that is worth it.
Where can kids burn off energy in Wichita for free?
Central Riverside Park has a splash pad, playgrounds, and walking paths along the Arkansas River, and my note calls it an easy free option for burning off energy on a nice day. The Keeper of the Plains is the big steel statue where the two rivers meet downtown. My note says it is free to walk around, it lights up at night, and there is a plaza with a small museum if you want to stay longer.
Is there a park with a splash pad downtown in Wichita?
Naftzger Park is a nice green space right downtown, and my note says it has a splash pad in summer. It calls the park a good spot to let kids run around while you grab food nearby. My note does not record what it costs, and it ties the splash pad to summer, so check what is running before you plan around it in the colder months.
What is a good full day or half day out in Wichita with kids?
For a full day, the Sedgwick County Zoo is the easy answer. My note calls it one of the largest zoos in the country and an easy full day out with kids of any age. For a half day, Old Cowtown Museum is a recreated 1870s frontier town you can walk through, with actors in character and old buildings you can go inside. My note calls it a good half-day trip for history-minded kids.
Is there anything in Wichita worth planning a visit around in the fall?
Yes, Botanica, The Wichita Gardens. My note says it is beautiful any time of year, but the fall mum display and the spring tulips are worth planning a visit around. It also calls Botanica a nice slow-paced walk if you need a break from the kids' activities. My list does not record dates for the mum display, so check Botanica's own site before you go.
Where should you eat while you are out with kids in Wichita?
Four places on my list are for food or a wander between stops. HomeGrown is a daytime spot in old town with a solid breakfast and lunch menu, and my note calls it a good place to refuel if you are making a day of downtown. Doo-Dah Diner is a quirky diner with a huge breakfast menu, and my note says the portions are big enough to split. Bradley Fair Shopping Center is an open-air center with a fountain and a good mix of restaurants, and my note calls it easy to spend a couple of hours walking around and grabbing dinner. Delano is a historic neighborhood just west of downtown with local shops and restaurants, and my note says it is a good area to wander if you want something less touristy.
How do you plan a day out in Wichita with a big family?
Pick one anchor, then add one stop nearby. A museum morning and a free park in the afternoon is an easy shape for a day, and several of my notes put a stop on or near the river, so a museum and a walk by the water can share a day. My list does not record hours, admission, or prices, so check each place's own site before you leave the house.
The bottom line on things to do in Wichita with kids
For a cold or rainy day, go to Exploration Place or the Wichita Art Museum. For a free afternoon, go to Central Riverside Park or walk around the Keeper of the Plains. For a whole day, choose the Sedgwick County Zoo, and for a half day, Old Cowtown Museum. You can open my Things to Do in Wichita, KS list to see all 15 places with my notes. If you want to know who is writing this, my story and how the days actually work explain how the family, the shop, and the rest of it fit together.
Frequently asked questions
What are some free things to do in Wichita with kids?
My Benable note calls Central Riverside Park an easy free option, with a splash pad, playgrounds, and walking paths along the Arkansas River. The Keeper of the Plains is free to walk around, and my note says it lights up at night. Check each place before you go, since my list does not record hours or seasons.
What is a good rainy day place in Wichita for kids?
My note calls Exploration Place a hands-on science museum and a good rainy day option, and it calls the Wichita Art Museum a good indoor option when it is too hot or too cold to be outside.